From Our Correspondent
TURA: A seven-member high-level delegation of State legislators empowered by the State Assembly held daylong discussions with various Garo NGOs, student and civil society groups on the Meghalaya Community Participation Bill and how to go about it taking into account their opposition at Tura Circuit House on Wednesday.
The Assembly Select Committee comprised of Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Metbah Lyngdoh, Paul Lyngdoh, Friday Lyngdoh and Timothy D Shira (all MLAs) among others. The committee was constituted to hold parleys with various social and student organisations to involve all stakeholders in facilitating the passing of the Meghalaya Community Participation Bill and hold the much needed elections to municipal bodies of the State.
Several student and social groups under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) had twice opposed the government plans to hold elections to four municipalities in Garo Hills, including Tura.
The meeting in Tura between the committee and various organisations went on expected lines with the Members (MDCs) of the Garo Hills Autonomous district Council and the JAC delegation strongly opposing any move to hold municipal polls.
The MDCs implied that the bill violates the Indian constitution because Article 243 has not been amended by Parliament and hence could not accept it.
Interestingly, it was in 1973 that the GHADC wrote to the State Government giving up its right towards upkeep of urban development and handed the reins of town management to it leading to the establishment of a municipality.
This important aspect was brought to the knowledge of the council delegation during Wednesday’s meeting with the select committee.
During their discussion, NGOs and civil society groups expressed apprehension that the bill could lead to overlapping of the constitution. There were fears also in regards to the collection of taxes by the council and the municipal board. Interestingly, dual tax collection has been going on for many decades now.
The legality of having a municipal board within the 6th Schedule area was also raised by some members from Tura.